Overview

• A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta granted the divorce under the irretrievable breakdown principle, dissolving a marriage that had been defunct for over 15 years.
• The court exercised its Article 142 powers to override statutory gaps, delivering a decree after family and high courts declined earlier petitions.
• The couple, who separated in 2009, saw a dowry harassment FIR quashed by the Bombay High Court on July 14 as part of a mutual settlement.
• The apex court observed that compelling a dead marriage to continue only perpetuates mental anguish for the spouses as well as the minor child.
• It directed the husband to pay ₹15,000 in monthly maintenance to the wife alongside support for their minor child, underscoring the emphasis on child welfare and dignity.